Prayer changes Things

          Today is the National Day of Prayer which originated first with Jesus, but in the United States by Abraham Lincoln in 1862.  He believed we had become so self-sufficient for ourselves, that we had forgotten God, the higher power of wisdom.  So he declared we needed a day of humility and prayer, thus the National Day of Prayer.  
       I spent most of the day, thanking Jesus for mercifully showing me all the recent mistakes I had made in the past week.  Charlie had a plaque, that is now on the door of my office, engraved are the words:  'Prayer Changes things' .  I am thankful to view this each day and especially today.  A senate chaplain, Barry Black said Make prayer become like breathing which paraphrases the bible verse:  "...pray without ceasing…".  This is my goal.  Here's hoping we can make ourselves better through prayer.  

2Timothy 22  The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.

Touching back with 'The Longest Ride'

Our Longest Ride

     'The Longest Ride' a book by Nicholas Sparks came out just after Charlie went to Heaven, and I loved reading it.  Everything from the big FORD pick-up to holding hands and reading his lovely letters, was included in this movie.   Charlie was an Ag and English major from MSU, so his cards and letters were poetry in the making.   Call me "old school" as Luke, or Scott Eastwood(gorgeous) says in the movie, it was fun to see an old-fashioned romance.  It was a 1940s love story  paralleling with a modern-day love story including a ranch and art dream.   For the first time, I loved the movie more than the book, as the relationships flowed together better in the movie than separated by chapters.   Brit Robertson, as Sophia(a beautiful young lady) has a relationship with Ira that you can see grow, better in movie than in the book.   A wonderful 'chick flick for sure, with great cinematography on the bull-riding and the country settings as well as real 1940 flashbacks.  Alan Alda as Ira says, love is complicated, not always happily- ever -after;  love requires sacrifice,…but it's worth it.  My review would say, There is a God and thank you for the signs you send me.

2 hands up for TIME

       After the movie, I proceeded to find all the cards/ letters Charlie wrote to me and then wrote down a few of my thoughts.  With tear-filled eyes, I remembered all the good times we had together.  "I love you babe."  "I love you more!"  fills my ears.

riding Along the Missouri Breaks

      We use to say our longest rides were at the PN ranch, where the dogs would have to travel at least, 50 miles to our 25 mile horse-back rides.  Those were our cowboy days.  Long, tall Charlie astride his horse so calm and still in his size-twelve, Bowman cowboy boots with spurs, wrangler jeans, button-down shirt, card-hart jacket, scarf and silver cowboy hat sitting astride a big tall gray horse, like a perfect silhouette upon the largest landform, called the Missouri Breaks.

    Now, I know he is having his longest trails up in the sky, "Uphill and into the wind," he'd say.

Welcome spring, Cross for Easter

Welcome spring, Happy Easter.  Thank you, Jesus for conquering death and renewing our will to live and love. Our church brought back a sixth century custom of Flowering the cross today, it was fun and everyone participated.  Mary Piper gave me the idea and Bob Fleming constructed the cross.  A two-year old, blonde-curly-haired little one wanted to keep her flower all through the service. I think she took it home with her, always wonderful, spontaneous happenings occur.

Snowflakes fell and turned back into water droplets by the time the service ended.  What a blessing for the dry land.  As I drove into church, a misty fog lay low over the power poles and made them appear as crosses in a row.  Made me think of Flanders field after WW1, so thank you to our soldiers, in the past and now.  Then, as the church began to fill up, so did the cross, a lovely renewed tradition to share Jesus' resurrection.

   

Lines in our lives: farming furrows

Farming furrows again…
    Although I am not a farmer, I love the furrows those great John Deere tractors make in springtime.  Dash and I are farmers from the window, fantasizing about riding in the big green tractor.  I know others do this too, just by listening to country songs.  Makes me think of Kenny Chesney's song;  'She thinks my tractor's sexy'
   We are enjoying the furrows in our life with a sense of peace.  Thank you Lord for the land, the work, and the beauty.

#3 in front of pump pasture & Absaroke mtns

Birds are Back Brunch

invite I

invite II

Table setting beginnings

         This is the beginning to our Birds are Back Brunch, invites are sent out to neighbors around the ranch and the table setting and baking begins.  
        The birds came back early this year, as most of our winter was filled with springtime temps.  This year three pairs of sandhill cranes are here with their loud gurgling sound at dawn and dusk.  The meadowlark, our state bird, is back along with the bluebirds, my favorite.  Lots of swallows, finch, and curlews sprinkle the pastures, luring the dogs to run and exercise to extreme fitness.  What a life we live, thank you God+

Irish Inklings

Happy St Patrick's Day

Snow christened the ground this morning in lace-like patterns.  The new green sprouts of grass are a softer green like my cabbage on the table setting.  The setting is really to celebrate the birds being back after winter.  Sand-hill cranes are heard at sunset and an array of little birds including my favorite mountain bluebirds have been flittering about for the past couple of weeks ushering in springtime weather patterns.

An Irish Prayer for you…

May God give you…

For every storm, a rainbow,

for every tear, a smile,

for every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial,

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song

                                                                 And an answer for each prayer

Here in Montana, Spring includes snow, so here are a couple of midnight guest prints.  

one of the BLT cats

bird tracks first

 

BLT, the Banter of the Barn

Our mini Lion king

       BLT, the barn cats,  have been staking out their hay bales in the loft as winter shivered in again with frosty cold temps.  Another stray visited last night and I asked Bear to share but no such luck, so he has taken over the stairs again.  Lion , who really looks like a miniature lion, is soaking up some sunshine this early morn' as last night was too much  chaos for him.  Tiger, is the most intelligent and friendly of them all.  This is a first time photo op. for Lion so I can include pictures of each of them

Bear, guarding loft

Lion in the morning sun

Tiger the scouter